Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ
A UU voice for justice, equity and compassion in NJ
The brief window between November elections and the convening of the new legislature in January—known as the “lame duck”—is a critical time in New Jersey politics. Heading into this lame duck season, we entered arm-in-arm with a broad coalition of our partners, calling with one voice for The People’s Lame Duck Agenda.
The current legislature adjourns on January 8th, 2024. Here’s a look at how we did.
From the Gala Committee
We appreciate your patience while we were working out the details for rescheduling our Justice for All Gala.
The Gala will be held on Saturday, February 10th from noon to 3 pm, at the UU Congregation of Princeton.
On Thursday, December 7th, over two dozen New Jersey community advocacy organizations came together for the People United for Justice Rally in Trenton. We were present on the steps of the State House to rally and lobby for the People’s Lame Duck Agenda for New Jersey.
From our Reproductive Justice Task Force: Menstrual Equity Subcommittee
The next time you visit your congregation, make sure to check out the restroom. Chances are you will see a supply of period products on hand, just like hand soap and toilet paper. Believe it or not, this is a big deal for everyone who menstruates.
This month, our Environmental Justice Task Force submitted comments to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on the permanent Community Solar Program.
“New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program allows those who rent, lack control of their roof, live in a multi-family building, do not have property suitable for solar, or cannot afford the cost of a solar installation to benefit from the cost savings and access to clean energy through solar power,” according to the NJ Board of Public Utilities. The permanent Community Solar Program was established this August, following a successful two-year pilot program. We vocally support this program first and foremost for its ability to create access to solar energy for renters and low-income households.
Today, UU FaithAction NJ joined with a powerful coalition of justice-seeking community organizations to hand-deliver The People’s Lame Duck Agenda to legislators across the state! We are urging our legislators to pass critical racial and social justice legislation to move our democracy forward.
Rev. Charles Loflin visited the office of Senator Nia H. Gill, along with Micauri Vargas of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and Eric Benson of New Jersey Policy Perspective. Nancy Griffeth, Board Trustee, also visited the offices of Senator Jon Bramnick, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, and Assemblywoman Michelle Matsokoudis, along with Bill Griffeth and Rosella Clyde of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey.
All together, our coalition visited every state senator and assemblyperson’s office in New Jersey.
As Boards of Education across New Jersey are considering repealing Policy 5756—i.e. the “Transgender Student Guidance for School Districts” policy—our Reproductive Justice Task Force is eager to share a resource to empower UUs to speak up.
📄 “Policy 5756 Statement of Support” PDF download
Our sample Policy 5756 statement of support is intended as a resource for UUs who wish to make comments in support of policy 5756 and trans students at their local school board meetings.
Many thanks to Rev. Rosemarie Newberry and to Garden State Equality for their contributions.
This Friday, November 3rd, is our first-ever “First Friday” Action Hour!
Join us at 12 noon, on Zoom, to TAKE ACTION together!
At our 2023 Fall Issues Conference, we officially announced the launch of a new initiative for UU FaithAction NJ—First Fridays Action Hour! Our Action Hour is inspired by and modeled after the successful program of our sibling state action network, UU Justice North Carolina.
By Ted Fetter, Immigration Justice Task Force Chair
On Tuesday, October 3, there was an urgent call from the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ). The emails and texts, starting around noon, called for immediate action. The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners would vote that very afternoon at 4:00 on a resolution calling for the State Legislature to rescind New Jersey’s Sanctuary State status. Supporters of immigrants had to mobilize quickly to oppose that resolution.
At our Fall Issues Conference on October 21st, 2023, Rev. Rosemarie Newberry delivered an urgent report on the quiet, insidious attack on New Jersey Dept. of Education guidance policy 5756 happening in local Board of Education meetings across our state.
Under the guise of “Parents’ Rights” or “Parental Rights,” this movement really represents a chipping away at trans children’s rights.
Watch Rev. Rosemarie Newberry’s “Keeping up with BOE’s” report at our Issues Conference, and view the text of her slideshow, below. Rev. Rosemarie’s segment begins at minute 57.
